Can packing and testing machine



Jan. '8, 1929.

G, A. SMITH CAN PACKING AND TESTING MACHINE Filed Sept? 6, 1927 5 SheeIs-Sheet www3-GLENN 6. SM1 TH Hrroelvey G. A.sM|1-H y CAN PACKING AND TESTING MACHINE Jan. 8, 1929.

n l G. A. SMITH CAN PACKING AND TESTING MACHINE 5 sheet -s eet 3 Filed sept. 6, 1927 HT'roeneY Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

GLENN A. SIVITH, F LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA.

CAN PACKING-l- AND Application filed September My invention relates to the art of packaging liquids, being more particularly a device for packing cans of gasoline or like sul stance and testing the cans during the packing to detect the presence of leaks.

Ordinarily five gallon tin cans, having a square section, are used as containers for gasoline, and two of such containers are .placed in a wooden case for shipment. rlhis operation is at present carried out byv manual labor and the testing of the cansV for leaks performed only in a casual manner, resulting in many cans being packed in a leaky condition and in discoloration of t-he cases,

One of the principal objects of my invention is to produce a packing device or apparatus of simple formy and construction for placing the tin containers referred to, or similar packages, in a shipping case entirely by machine which, during the operation of packing, applies pressure to or squeezes the cans so that opposite sides thereof are compressed toward each other and any leaks in same are apparent to the operator, thereby insuring that only tight cans are placed in the shipping cases. Y

To attain these objects, ll have produced a 'device or apparatus which lconsists generally of a feed conveyor upon which the cases to receive the cans are brought under a delivery or packing throat comprising a throat through which the cans are delivered to the cases, in which means are provided for aping leaks, if any, to be manifested by the egress of contained fluid and to also adjustably control the speed at which the cans are deposited in the packing cases. ln connection with this delivery or packing throat, ll employ a receivingconveyor upon which the cans are placed vertically or horizontally in pairs, afterbeing received from the soldering operation closing the can'cap or filling opening. l Cans are then delivered in pairs in a horizontal position to a feed roller over and around which they are brought to a vertical position immediately above the packing throat, by means of adjustable guides. ln connection with this receiving conveyor, `in case the cans are placed upon the receiving conveyor in a vertical position, l provide an initial tilting and testing device which tumbles the cans to a horizontal position and e, lea?.

loss of contents and an increase of fire hazard. v

plying pressure to the sides of the cans, caustenerme MACHINE.

Serial No. 217,654.

applies pressure to the can for the'purpose .55 also of determining the presence of leaks in the cans.. n i' y Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following description;

Referring to the drawings, which are'for 30 illustrative purposes only, v f

1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, showing in general an ape paratuskembodying a form ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic Aplan view corre- '65 sponding to Fig. 1. .i 1- Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the packing throat and adjacent-parts.

Fig. 4 isa vertical sectional viewon line 4 4 of Fig. 3. e Q Fig. 5v is a cross-sectional view on line r 5 5 ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the packing throat of a modified form'of my'` invent-ion, and v 75 Fig. 7 is anV elevationfurther illustrating theoperation of theform of my inventiont shown in Fig. 6.. f 1 i More particularly describing my invention, as .illustrated in the drawings, 11 designates .V80 a conveyor hereinafter referredto Vas the receiving-eonveyor, which, in the form shown, consists of endless chains 12 connected byv cross bars 13 which engage behind thecans 14C and move the saine forward in the` direc- 85 tion of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cans resting onatable 15, mounted ina frame l 16', suitably supported from the floorby legs 17 at one end and bythe structure of a pack ing throat frame generally designated at 18v 90 at the opposite end. The chain 12is mounted on shafts 19 and 20, the shaft lll-being driven from a motor or other power-means indicated at 21. .v l v fi. The vcans 14 are placed-in pairs, thaty is, 95 side by side,- upon the conveyor 11 by means such as a filling conveyor 22 (Fig. y2) in an up-right position, as shown-at a in Fig. 1, and are carried forwardly -by the conveyor 11 between'the guide bars 23 until thecans strike 1.00 a cross bar- 24' mounted' in asubframe 25l which tilts the cans over as indicated at b in 1, causing the cans to lie in av horizontal position on the conveyor as they' pass under a pressure'roller 26S-which is. adjust- 105 y ably mounted in the subframe 25, so that the sides of the cans are engaged between the roller 26, the conveyor table 15, and the guideY i bars 23, with sutlicient pressure to press the sides of the can engaged thereby, thus forcling the contained liquid through any weak joints in the can and consequently showing' iquid on the exterior thereof.

This pressure device l term a tilting and testing throat, consisting of the roller 26, guide bars 2,3, and supporting table 15.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the cans coming from the conveyor 11 are passed to a feed roller 31,

supported in t-he packing and testing throat frame 18, which consists of vertical members 32 and cross bars 33, .34, 35, 36 and 37. ln passing over the ro-ller 31, the cans are di- :rected` through the dotted line positions shown Y in Figr3 by a: series of bowed plates 38 which are preferably symmetrically curved on a radius from the axis Vof the roller 31. These bowed slats have flatV engaging ends 39 and .40 through which they are resiliently mounted yon cross bars'41 by bolts 42, extendingv throughcross members l33 and 34 of the packing'throat and provided with suitable nuts 43. The nuts 43 engage coiled springs 44 which are disposed on the bolts 42 between the bars 41 and members 32 and 33 for holding the bowed slats in semi-rigid relation to other parts of the packing throat. d

VThe sides of the packing throat adjacent l to the bowed slats 38v are comprised of guide 'plates 45 and 45 mounted onthe frame by means of suitable bolts 46, and the side opposite the bowed slats and'beneath the roller 31 isprovided with a pressure guide plate 47,

which is supported on a cross member 48 byv Y--means of'bolts'49. Y

` The vertical guide plates andv 45 are so arranged and the bowed slats so adjusted that the cans,after beingvdirected to avertical position, will pass through the throat formed lby the flat surface 39 and the guide plates 45 and 45, receiving therein a quadriv l directioned side pressure which is suticient to manifest any openings or leaks in the can, bythe egress ofthe contained liquid. This throat-is further arranged and'adjusted tov direct jthe cans into a packing case placed therebelow as hereinafter described.

Arranged beneath the lower end of the packing throat 504is a platform'l consist- 'ing ofa frame 52, pivotally mounted by means of a rod 53 to themain frame in any suitable manner. This frame 51fis provided with a; series of rollers54 mounted therein whichreceive a 'case 55 from any'suitable form of case `delivering conveyor 56,v in the present insta-nce consistingof a series of rolls 57 arranged in inclined relationto each other, so that-the cases may move by' gravity there- .1 over. TheY frame 52 and lrollers therein are held inf horizontal positionbymeans of a weighted arm 58, the weight V59 Ybeing suiicient to support an unloaded case thereombut as the 'cans are deliveredfrom thepacking throat 50 to the case 54 on the platform 51, the platform is tilted suiiiciently to permit the loaded case to travel out from under the packing throat to a case receiving conveyor 60, consisting of a series ofrollers 61. The

Vcases are held in proper position underthe throat 50 by means of guide bars 62 and a stop roller 63, said roller engaging the upper advancing end ofthe case as shown in Fig. 3, which engagement remains until the case has been loaded and the platform tilts to allow the case to pass to the case receiving conveyor 60.

In the form of my invention shown in F igs. 6 and 7, the cans are introduced from the conveyor 11 onto an auxiliary roll conveyor 64 over which they are carried to the feed roller 31. The packing and testing throat iu this form of my invention consists of two oppositely disposed power driven rolls 65 and 66, which are mounted in the packing throat frame on shafts 67 and 68, and are driven in the direction of the arrows shown-in Fig. 6,

at the same peripheral speed by means such f speed,`it is necessary that the diameter of the sprocket wheels 69 and 70 respectively be in the same ratio with the Vdiameters of the respective rollers. The rollers 65 and 66 are preferably mounted with their axes in the same horizontal plane, and in order that the cans passingover the directing roller 31` may be directed to a verticalposltion over the packing case 55,l make the roller 65 of greater diameter than the rollers 31 and V66, the latter two being preferably of equal diameter.

The packing throat 50 is further provided.y with verticalside guide plates 45, and as the cans are carried 'through thc throat formed between the guide plates 4,5 and the rollers 65 and 66,*the lspeed of descent of the cans vgovernedby the revolution of the'rolls 65 and 66. These rolls are further adjusted relative to each other, and the guide plates 45 are the egress of fluidthrough any leaks Vor weak positions in the cans, making the presence of same readily ascertainable. j j

In the form of my invention. (shown in lossV Figs. Gland 7 l may further employ a series i of horizontal rolls 76 mounted upon angle I bars 76 and engaging the4 upper portion of'Y the case 55 for the purpose of holding the uo Y 12o Y so arranged that a pressure isapplicdto the 4descending cans, which is suflicient to cause cases in a proper position relative to the packing throat 50.

In the use of my invention I preferably provide all of the canengaging rolls lwith a placed on the receiving conveyor in upright position, so thatl when the same are tilted into horizontal posit-ion and pass under the tilting throat the bottoms of the cans are advancing toward the inspector who is vlocated at thel packing end of the apparatus, in order that any leaks on the bottoms lof the cans may be observed as they approach the observer. As the cans areuprighted in the packer and advanced through the second or packing throat, wherein a second pressure is applied on the cans, any leaks on the tops thereof are immediatelyV discernible. The squeezing of the cans referred to, it will be understood, is against the sides of the cans as the sides ordinarily slightly bulge outwardly between their ends.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for testing' and packing cans: conveyor means; a throat adapted to receive cans from said conveyor means; and means in the throat for exerting pressure on the sides of the cans passing therethrough.

2. In an apparatus for testing and packing cans conveyor means for receiving said cans g an initial testing throat cooperating with said conveyor to exert pressure on the sides of the cans when in horizontal position on said conveyor; means for uprighting the cans as they leave said conveyor; and means for Vexerting pressure-on the cans in upright position.

3. In an apparatus for testing and packing cans: conveyorl means for receiving said cans; an initial throat cooperating with said conveyor to exert pressure on the sides of the cans when in horizontal position on said con-A veyor; a vertically arranged packing throat for receiving the cans delivered from said conveyor; means in said packing throat for exerting pressure on the sides of said cans; and means undei said packing throat for supporting a case to receive the cans from said packing throat. y y

a. In an apparat-us for testing and packing cans conveyor means for receiving said cans; an initial throat cooperating with said conveyor to exert pressure on the sidesA of the cans when in horizontal position on said conveyor; a vertically arranged packing throat for receiving the cans delivered from said conveyor; means in said packing throat for exerting pressure on the sides of thecans; means under said packing throat for supporting a case to receive the cans from said packing throat, said case supporting means consisting of a platform pivotally mounted under said packing throat; and weight means for yieldingly holding said platform 'in horizontal position. n

5. In an apparatus for testing and packing cans: conveyor means for receiving said cans in a vertical position; tilting means for'placing said cans` in a horizontal position, comprising a fixed member cooperatively mounted relative to said conveyor and engageable by said' vertical cans; means for exerting pressure on said horizontal cans; meansfor uprighting,' said cans; means for. exerting pressure on said vertical cans; and means for delivering said cans to receiving cases.

f6. In an apparatus for testing and packing cans: means for receiving said cans in vertical position; conveyor means en gageable with the bottom of said cans; fixed means extending transversely with the direction of movement of said conveyor and engageable by said cans effecting theirhorizontal placement; lroller means pressurably engageable with said advancing horizontal cans; and means for packing and testing said cansin avertical position r 7 In an apparatus for testing and packing cans `conveyor means for receiving said cans in a vertical position; means for tilting said cans to a horizontalposition; means for testing said cans in a horizontal position; and means for uprighting, testing and packingsaid cans in a vertical position, comprising Y a roller member, an oppositely disposed bowed member, and cooperating vertical members forming a throat.

8. lIn an apparatus for testing and packing cans: conveyor means for receiving said cans in a vertical position; means for tilting said cans to a horizontal position; means for testing said cans in a horizontalposition; and means fory uprighting, testing and packing said cans in a vertical position, comprising a roller member, a bowed member, and cooperating vertical members forming a throat, said bowed member being symmetrically curved relative to the axis of said roller member and oppositely disposed thereto.

9. In an apparatus for testingand packing K' cans; conveyor means for receiving said cans in a vertical position; means for tilting said cans to a horizontal position; means for testingsaid cans in a horizontal position; `and means for uprighting, testing and packing said cans in a vertical position, comprising a roller/member, an oppositelyfdisposed bowed member, and cooperating vertical members4 y forming a throat, said bowed member being held in a resiliently adjustable position relative to said roller member.

l0. In an apparatus fortesting and packing cans: conveyor means for receiving said vcans in a vertical position; means forvtilting "said cans to a. horizontal position; means for testing said cans in a horizontal position; and means for uprighting, `testing and packing said cans in a Vertical position, comprising' a plurality of oppositely disposed roller members, and cooperating1 vertical members forming a throat.

11. In an apparatus for .testing and packing` cans: conveyor means for receivingl said cans in a vertical position; means for .tilting said cans to a horizontal position; means .for testing said cans in a lhorizontal position; and means for uprignting, testing` and packing said cans in a vertical position, comprising an inclined. conveyor member, a pair of roller members mounted one above the other, a single roller member disposed oppositely thereto, and cooperating Vertical members forming a throat.

12. In an apparatus for testing andk packing,l cans: conveyor means delivering,-` said .cans in a horizontal position to a packing throat; a directing roller and a cooperating bowed member for uprighting sald cans; ad-

ing cans: conveyor means deliveringl saidV cans in a horizontal position to a packing throat; a packing throat comprisingl two 0ppositely disposed Vertical members; a directing roller member and two oppositely disposed pressure roller members mounted at right angles with said Vertical members and cooperating therewith to form a throat; andA means rotating said pressure rollers at the same peripherall speed. c

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 23rd day of August, 1927.

GLENN A. SMITH. 

